St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-11-26

when We finally did So Arthur n90 ~
most accomplished the ascent
..Hold on. Waltz" he cried; 'don't
be afraid-I'm coming. just keep
where you are"
.'Oh. the eaglesr' answered Walt
'One Of them has just knocked my
cap Of! Hurry up. Art-oh. come
quickr'
Some of the rest of US attempted =
Chamber up. but made wretched WORK
of it. for the risk appeared frightful.
1t was enough to shake . very stout
heart tn cling to . bare rock in the nix.
where the hold WAS so slight and
doubtful, and when We looked up and
saw the stair 20 fearfully high, there
was very little encouragement in ths
prospect
1--WE got him clearr' Arthur shout
ed down to MS at length. rs We were
strung along the face of the cliff. some
high and some low; 81 but l wish tho
eagles would keep away. Only see1
there are four Of 'em now"
1t seemed as II = second pair had
come to assist the first. and, embOld-
ened by their numbers, the whole b.
came startlingly ferociOus- Seeming to
know that the two boys were attemPe-
ing to retreat, they pressed the attack
with frantic rage. Arthurs cap shared
the fate of his companions. and both
lads got . number of blows. As Wal
ter, after all, had no broken bones, he
was still quite active, though dreadful
" cowed and frightened. He crouchcd
into - small space rs possible. while
Arthur, knowing him to be severely
bruised, took the more exposed posi-
tioD.
Suddenly there was . more than
usual thunder of the sail-like wings.
All four of the birds seemed to swoop
down ut once; their tails were broad
ened, and their beaks and talons
looked like hooks Of steel We saw
Arthur strike out with his arms. and
heard . terrified yell from Walter:
In another moment our hearts stood
still with horror. Arther Clifford ha6
gone completely of the rock. in mid
air, over three hundred feet from tho
ground! What . spectacle it was!
Such shock as we then experienced
could never be forgotten BY any OF u.s.
But the next instant. what was our
surprise to see that. instead OF falling
like stone. he was merely sinking
slowly. There was prodigious haP-
ping Of wings about him. and We 10.
allied what had happened. Two Of
the enormous eagles had fastened their
talons in his stout flannel SHIRT and his
weight. dragging them down. pro
vented them from getting clear. Prob
ably they had both struck him at tho
same time with what Tennyson would
call their ..hooked hands," and this
had caused him to lose his balance and
fall.
Would their hold continue? Would
it not give way and permit him to be
dashed to . shapeless mass?
20, IL they should unh0Ok them
selves" cried the second mate. but
there see! He has got them by
the legs besides! Hold ON, Arthur!
hold on hardr' he added, shouting
with al his might
The beating Of the broad wings was
like the tapping Of windmill arms and
the screams Of the royal birds could
have been heard for miles Faster and
faster, however, they settled with their
load. while the two that were still free
circled around the others. shrieking -
loud as they. The descent may kave
occupied . minute; for those huge
| wings, twelve or fourteen feet from tip
to tip, had immense resisting power.
Then Arthur struck the earth and
the magnificent creatures. making .
last desperate effort, tore away from
him, taking long STRIPS of his blue
shirt in their terrible talons - they
SCARED screaming aloft
The brave boy knew better than to
make any effort 1t OBTAINING them; and.
indeed. he was already badly wounded
by their claws and out of breath from
his exertions, although wonderfully
cool in mind.
"Where's Waltz he asked. They
haven't thrown him of. have they?"
And the noble little fellow glanced
anxiously mp 1t the high rock. He
had saved his companion at the risk Of
his own life; for Walter, seeing the
way clear, at once recommended his
descent and soon got down to where
two Of rs were able to assist him. His
lower limbs were much injured where
they had been wcdged in the crevice.
but he could still use them. Once
more upon the ground he staggered up
to Arthur and seized his hand.
ut was you that saved me-" he said
'.You are the bravest fellow I ever
saw. The eagles would have killed
me where / was il you hadn't come.
just look at my head and shoulders!
| Sec where they hit and pecked mel"
"They couldn't quite hold up my
ninety-six pounds" said Arthur. laugh
ing. land l guess they would have let
you down to fast II they had got you
Of. for you are little heavier than !
am"
We were soon on board the ship.
where the boys. after few days. re-
covered from their injuries. And il
did one good to see what bosom friends
they became. Walt was not bad fel-
low at heart and his terrible experience
had IN excellent effect upon him. Both
he and Arthur are now prominent
shipmasters, but undoubtedly both en-
tertain . vivid recollection Of the one
great adventure Of their boyhood-
George H. Coomer. - Golden Days.
If We eat just enough. both mind
and body are invigorased- II we eat
too little. both become weak and faint
tho body trembles. the mind is inef-
ncient II We eat too much the stOm-
ach can not eliminate the material
i -hs,k = t<N ~vsv~ <,snt = v,ssrx. NaPfpn0 and